Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Hi

Well nothing seems as happy as my last post. My feelings for what has happen and happening in Japan are overwhelming. I constantly during the day stop for a min and think and say a little prayer. It is difficult to know I'm going to sleep in a bed, when some people in world don't have the simplest of needs.

On to my own issues .. I woke up a few days back with a black eye..literally. I went to the drs and was told i had a staph infection in my eye..ugh. It spread to my face and I ended up with two black eyes and lots of ugly messy face stuff. I can say it is now clearing up, after lots of antibiotics and creams!

Katie, (13 years old) my Llewellyn setter went to the vet a several months ago. I was told by one of the vets, she had cancer... so I went home and had to think it through. I set her up for surg a week later...When I got there I saw a different vet and he said..no, I don't think its cancer. He did about 5 xrays and came back and said it was bone fusion in her spine. She couldn't walk well and started being treated with steroids shots. I honestly felt she was just not going to make it, and obviously the Dr did not either, he suggested she might also have cancer but with her condition and age, keeping her comfortable was the best decision and an invasive surg on her would not be recommend. I did not have her on heart worm prevention. I didn't even know about heart worms. They had about 10 different posters all telling of horrible things dogs get. I looked away. BIG MISTAKE!

At the last appt she was really doing great, the pills worked. She was almost her old self. So she needed to have her toe nails clipped and get her prescription renewed. I took Penny for the ride and off we went. Everything went great, I had Katie's meds, and was purchasing heart worm protection blah blah... well I was headed out the door and the Dr said Oh Katie was not tested for heart worms last time you were here..and after about 20mins the dr came and said Katie has heart worms..UGH my heart sank. I felt like a complete and total failure. They did xrays and came back and said it had not enlarged her heart. So she started the treatment. She came home upset and tired. She slept for a few days and I was at her side bringing her water, and breaking up bits of food.. She is to go back in a few weeks to have the final treatment of two shots and an overnight stay. My point of this is for a few dollars and a taking time to think if I have done everything i could to keep my pets healthy, I COULD have prevented this. If I had taken time to think of what I needed to do to be a good pet owner.

1) no pain of treatment and infection for Katie
2) treatment ends up being around 1500.oo

Penny my golden is great and yes she is on medicine to prevent heart worms now. I am reading a book on caring for pets http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Ultimate-Guide-Matthew-Hoffman/dp/0875965326

So, in closing its important to educate yourself if you decide to have pets. You are their only chance at having a healthy life.

BFN Xandi